Influence of COVID‐19 pandemic on research and fieldwork: Perspectives from Ghana

Abstract The insurgence of COVID‐19 has received all attention at the detriment of research on most diseases. Procedures and protocols devised to curb the pandemic continues to affect lives and work. As most countries prepare to tune back to normalcy, working conditions undoubtedly will not be the same as the World Health Organization still urges nations to scale up procedures and strategies against the pandemic. As research groups and projects across the globe and especially in Ghana begins work, these protocols must be fashioned into their study protocol before approval will be granted by ethical institutions. This has led to increase in research cost, with additional responsibilities aside their normal research activities. This perspective clearly points out the impact of the pandemic on research, especially fieldwork.


| INTRODUCTION AND THE EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC ON NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES (NTDs)
In this era of global chaos because of the ever-changing virus (corona virus), the world has entered a stage where all forms of activities must adopt and adapt to conditions that will make working possible.

Corona virus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). 1 The virus is mainly spread between people during close contact, most often through small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, and talking. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations and all research related activities had planned systems of operations.
However, this is not so now, as individuals and organizations must put in place measures to; (1) adhere to COVID-19 preventive protocols, (2) change methods of operation (mostly from in person to online, or partially virtual) and (3)  most NTDs were to be eradicated by 2020. However, these goals could not meet target due to many factors with COVID-19 been a major player. Other factors include mass drug administration coverage, cost, and logistics especially in Sub Saharan Africa. In 2019, the WHO aimed at revamping measures to end most of the NTDs by providing adequate logistics, education and visibility until COVID-19 became a global concern, halting all other programs and health activities. This has been one of the biggest blows to NTDs prevention. Efforts channeled towards COVID-19 responses have tampered with the progress made towards NTDs elimination but with targeted and scaled-up efforts, NTDs could be eradicated by 2030 as targeted by WHO. 5

| EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON FIELDWORK
The pre-eminence of the pandemic was graced with research organiza-

| RESUMPTION FROM LOCKDOWNS AND INDOOR RESEARCH
After months of lockdown and indoor living, active screening in research must continue. This is very paramount in that, such activities lead to the discovery of new infections, population at risk and helps in setting strategies to combat them. Although, outdoor programs and activities have been allowed in various countries and communities, it is still essential for research teams and organizations to develop protocols on COVID-19 as an addition to their main study protocol.
It is unarguably true that the pandemic positively became a gold mine for some institutions. In that products and services needed to survive the pandemic faced rocketing prices. Hence making research more expensive with increase in the pandemic virus.

| THE FUTURE WITH COVID-19
From WHO's bulletin, it is pleasing to see that some countries with the lowest vaccination rates are now making up ground, especially in  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I acknowledge the authors of the referenced articles.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The author declares no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Data sharing not applicable to this article.

TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT
The lead author Fatima Amponsah Fordjour affirms that this manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the study being reported; that no important aspects of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned (and, if relevant, registered) have been explained.